Understanding What It Means to Be Blessed
Numbers 23
Blessed - Condition or state of being in God’s grace or favor.
(Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology)
Numbers 23:3-4; 5-13; 15-23; 25 (NLT)
Then Balaam said to Balak, “Stand here by your burnt offerings, and I will go to see if the Lord will respond to me. Then I will tell you whatever he reveals to me.” So Balaam went alone to the top of a bare hill,…The Lord gave Balaam a message for King Balak… So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. This was the message Balaam delivered: “Balak summoned me to come from Aram; the king of Moab brought me from the eastern hills.
‘Come,’ he said, ‘curse Jacob for me! Come and announce Israel’s doom.’ But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned? I see them from the cliff tops; I watch them from the hills. I see a people who live by themselves, set apart from other nations. Who can count Jacob’s descendants, as numerous as dust? Who can count even a fourth of Israel’s people? Let me die like the righteous; let my life end like theirs.” Then King Balak demanded of Balaam, “What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies. Instead, you have blessed them!” But Balaam replied, “I will speak only the message that the Lord puts in my mouth.” Then King Balak told him, “Come with me to another place. There you will see another part of the nation of Israel, but not all of them. Curse at least that many!” Then Balaam said to the king, “Stand here by your burnt offerings while I go over there to meet the Lord.” And the Lord met Balaam and gave him a message. Then he said, “Go back to Balak and give him my message.” So Balaam returned and found the king standing beside his burnt offerings with all the officials of Moab. “What did the Lord say?” Balak asked eagerly. This was the message Balaam delivered: “Rise up, Balak, and listen! Hear me, son of Zippor. God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it! No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’ Then Balak said to Balaam, “Fine, but if you won’t curse them, at least don’t bless them!”
1. When God blesses you then you ARE blessed
Numbers 23:19 (NLT)
God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Your battles don’t mean you’re not blessed
People coming against you doesn’t mean you’re not blessed
Your feelings in the moment don’t mean you’re not blessed
Numbers 23:8 (NLT)
But how can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I condemn those whom the Lord has not condemned?
condemned
/kənˈdemd/
adjective
adjective: condemned
1. sentenced to a particular punishment, especially death.
2. officially declared unfit for use
Ephesians 1:3 (ESV)
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ
Ephesians 1:4-8 (ESV)
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
2. You don’t have to fight to be blessed
Numbers 23:20 (NLT)
Listen, I received a command to bless; God has blessed, and I cannot reverse it!
Romans 8:31 (ESV)
If God is for us, who can be against us?
3. Blessing is on the way because you’re blessed
Numbers 23:21-23 (NLT)
No misfortune is in his plan for Jacob; no trouble is in store for Israel. For the Lord their God is with them; he has been proclaimed their king. God brought them out of Egypt; for them he is as strong as a wild ox. No curse can touch Jacob; no magic has any power against Israel. For now it will be said of Jacob, ‘What wonders God has done for Israel!’
Psalm 23:6 (KJV)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
